Improvement in potato-diggers



E. T. FORD.

- Potato-Digger.

Patented Aug. 11. 1863.

UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E. T. FORD, OF STILLWA'IER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEM ENT IN POTATO-DIGGERS.

Specification forming part Yof Letters Patent No. 39,475, dated August 11, 1863; antedated October 2S, 1862.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E.T. FORD, of Stillwater, in the county of Saratoga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines to be used for Digging Potatoes; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of the whole machine. Fig. 2, 3, 4, 5, and l0 are detached sections of Fig. 1.

Construction of Fig. l: I take the point D b and attach it to the dividerD D n. The gagerod t is affixed to the rear portion of the same. The two centers I T are united to the divider D also, as seen in Fig. 3, one with rotating scraper K K and one with teeth formed with the tubes U U inserted upon the centers 'I T. The multiplying-shaft It, with its largest pinion, V, and smaller pinion, S, is located upon the left side of frame() O, as seen in Fig. 2, and the right shaft, R, without the larger pinion, V, but with the smaller pinion, S, are seen in Fig. 5, also in Fig. 2, arranged in line with the left shaft, R. Fig. 2 also represents the construction of the wheel a t rta, formed with long teeth, similar to a rotary drag, consisting in a circular plate connected to the pinion W,which is also connected to the tube or tubes U U. When two wheels of that formation are used the tubes encompass the centers TT.

The forward extremities of frame O O may be in detached sections,for convenience in their connection to the axle of master-wheels A A. The divider D,as seen in Fig.3,with its parts, is located underneath the frame G C, the centersTTextending upward through the orifices made within the arms of frame O O, and retained by two pins, as seen also in Fig. 2. I now take the sections as connected together and arranged in Figs. 3 and 2 and locate them between and underneath the main frame B B,

as seen in Fig. l, and in the rear end view,

as seen in Fig. l0, with a portion of the frame C C and frame B broken off in order to show the wheels ct a c to and K K and divider D and its connection to the handle of frame O C by the gagerod t and small flange N, which projects from the center of the rear portion of the frame B B. The divider D may or may not be connected tothe frame B B by the insertion of a bolt through the gage-rod t and lian ge N, but is at all times connected and adjusted to the frame O or handle G a in giving it the necessary pitch. The two master-wheels A A each are placed upon their axles, which are attached to each side of frameB B 5 or the wheels A A may be arranged upon one axle extending across the frame B B. The wheels A A embrace the pinions S S, as seen in Fig. l. The yoke G G, with the right plow or jointer F connected as seen in Fig. 9, is arranged in front of the drive-wheels A A, embracing the pole-section M, with the left plow F also attached. The plows F F are on a line with the wheels A A. The rear extremities of yoke G G may embrace the axle of the master-wheels A A as their centers; or their centers maybe substituted by two bolts located upon each side of frame B B a little forward of the axles of wheels AA. A double lian ge, S t, is formed with and at the center of yoke G, receiving the lever H. Also, the double ilange Y is united to the pole E with a bolt inserted and receiving the forward extremity of the lever H. At or nearthe rear extremity of lever H the gage 0r standardfi is attached rigidly by the bolt d, and extends downward to and rests upon the frame C O. It may be formed in sections and so connected as to present greater or less length, for the convenience of adjusting the yoke G and plows or jointersFF. The scraper-blades KKKK are attached toilangesXXX, formed with and at the lower extremities of the two tubes U U; but the rotary wheels, with long teeth a. a a a, as seen in Fig. 10, will be mostly used in the various soils of land.

The machine as seen in Fig. 1 may be used with or without the yoke GG and plows F F. The cogs of pinions V and W are so slanted to one side of their centers as to bring the divider D,with attached parts,to the rear of the centers of the master or driving wheels A A for the purpose of preventing the dirt from getting into the cogs of wheels AA but the gear may be made to work equally as well by having their cogs directed to their centers, and in that instance the rear portion of the dividerD must be elevated and the center shafts, T T, put in line with the multiplyingshafts RR. The ploWsFF are arranged ahead ot' the Wheels A A in order to remove the stones, lumps of earth, and vines from and to the side of wheels A A; and the jointers F F may be, so adjusted by lever H, gagestandard t'. and yoke G that the jointers can be made to out a furrow for the Wheels A A, thereby allowing the divider D, with its parts, to enter the ground to any necessary depth required.

Operation of Fig. 1: The driving-Wheels A A revolve the rotary Wheels With teeth a ct a a. or blades K K K K upon their centers T T, and agitating the earth, the potatoes being taken up by the divider D in its forward movement, the earth and potatoes passing over right and left; yet a portion ot the saine may pass to the rear at the center and through the opening W n. The motion is given to each rotary Wheel with teeth a a or blades K by the driving-Wheels A A, independent of eaeh other, and is communicated by their pinions S S,shaftRR, multiplying-pinion V V, and bevel-pinions W W of tubes U U. The divider D,With its frame G C e, may be elevated or depressed, moving from the centers of the axles A A,Without diseouneetin g the gear, and at the same time the divider D, with its parts, may be connected to the frame B by a bolt inserted through the orioes of gage-rod t and ange N. The yoke G G, with ploWs or jointers F F, is elevated or depressed by means ot" the lever H.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

ll. The combination and arrangement of the two rotating wheels, one armed with teeth au a a, the other with scraper-blades K K, separately or combined, the frame C C, and the divider D, all constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose above described.

2. In combination with the above, the arrangement of the yoke G, plows F F, iange S o, lever H, gage-bar i, double flange Y, and driving-Wheels A A, as and for the purpose above described.

p E. T. FORD.

Titnesses THOMAS HAGERTY, J H. PHILLIPS. 

